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Wine 101: Dealing with Wine Snobs

December 9, 2016 by evebushman

Life with wine doesn’t always revolve around tasting/scoring wines, wine education and covering events; now and then I’m able to take a moment and contemplate the world of wine for myself and my wine 101ers – but usually because something is really bugging me, like my recent article, Disservice to the Wine Community: Bringing Wine to a Restaurant Shouldn’t Necessitate Insult (and all you need to know about corkage fees), today’s article tackles the next worst thing after snobby somms and that’s snobby aficionados.169983321_c06293bf6e_b

Self Proclaimed Aficionados

Have you ever found yourself on the losing end of a discussion with a person that considers himself or herself more fluent on wine? I’m the first one to bow (not literally) to someone’s pedigree if they are a wine educator, winemaker, wine representative or wine store owner. Never would dawn on me to challenge them. But when I’m in a conversation with a regular wine Joe, so to speak, why do some feel the need to drop cult winery names, experiences, and then to go so far as to challenge you to agree with them?

I have ONE acquaintance like that. I’ve spent YEARS trying to reach him; reach him in a way as to gently show him that it isn’t always about the cost of the bottle that sets a wine apart, or a cult status, or the foreign ground the winery was on. You know what I finally did? I threw in the towel. Figured I would no longer engage this person. Life is too short to drink bad wine, as they say, or have a bad wine experience. Cut your losses if this ever happens to you. Period.

Jerks at Tastings

This time I can think of at least three gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, that turn up their noses at some of the winery tables at wine events. That happens, we all have a right to our opinions, but we should keep those opinions to ourselves as they are just that: a singular opinion. Don’t dis a winery, period.

And, if you happen to be sitting next to a lady, don’t lean over to her, drink from her water glass and tell her that her perfume is interfering with your tasting. Happened to me once. I informed the joker I don’t wear perfume, he grunted, then I asked to return my water glass, to which he offered no apology. In the words of Nicole Kidman, as Samantha in Bewitched, to her Darren: don’t be “a jerk.”

Wine Shop Personnel

People, novices especially, have difficulty in a wine shop. They may need the opinion of an expert – that may even be why they came in. But I’ve seen customers ignored by employees, maybe even “wine judged” as they may not look like the type of person to really spend on wine. Please. Get over yourself. You are in the service industry, supply the service.

Burnt Out Winery Staff

Have you ever been in a winery where a tasting sheet is set in front of you, a splash is poured, only to be left to your own devices? It happens, and in defense of wineries it may be only because of a large crowd.

What’s worse, is if the staff makes you feel ill-prepared, say for instance if you are not a member or didn’t make a reservation. These things can be handled with tact.

The last thing you want is an unhappy wine taster leaving with a bad taste in their mouth. They are more than likely to share the experience…on social media.

Insulting Wine Writers

Reading a lot of wine periodicals I rarely see columns like this one that attempts to make the experience for the wine lover any better. What I do see, is the same snobbery in full force picking over the ill-educated taster, criticizing them for a lack of wine knowledge, proper pronunciation of varieties and/or being bothered that they may photograph their wine or wine and food pairing. Get over yourselves.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. You can also seek her marketing advice via Eve@EveBushmanConsulting.com

Filed Under: Eve Bushman Tagged With: cult winery, somm, wine education, wine rep, wine store, Wine tasting, winemaker

No Longer A Wedge Between Destiny: Wheel House Cheese Shop Marries Fromage with Wine, Beer & Cider

November 18, 2015 by evebushman

(Culver City, CA), November 2015: What is wine without the cheese? Culver City’s Wheel House Cheese Shop asks the same question. That is why it is a serendipitous time for the cheese epicenter of the Westside to announce that it is now offering an array of rare and exclusive retail Wine, Beer and Ciders to pair perfectly with its vast assortment of fromage, charcuterie and other tasty treats.    

nWlYQDJpKx0dvaoLNbKEjcGtcyb-MZG0UAOPEYPJGXU,v1oYSd4oEASoC8aefMo9UBVzXjpZ7ahAkRXgdBt4p_k,0mwWaaCRFxfugI9LpuN0aWkridJHXitbW0HFrsZxszk Wheel House Cheese Shop is excited to introduce a well-curated retail selection of small-production wines, craft beers and artisanal ciders that have been carefully selected to pair beautifully with Wheel House’s world-class selection of cheeses. “Every wine, beer and cider was specifically handpicked based on its ability to pair with our offerings of cheeses and charcuterie,” says Wheel House Cheese Shop owner Alex Josef. “When you walk into the store and peruse the wine and beer, you will find that every bottle we offer lists its own tasting notes below it, along with what it best pairs with. Additionally, our cheesemongers are always happy to make pairing suggestions. This is meant to be a non-intimidating experience for everyone, beginner to expert.”

With an always evolving assortment of cheese (more than 100 selections representing at least a dozen countries), plus 15 to 20 fine cured meats and charcuterie items, dozens of gourmet accompaniments ranging from jams and spreads to crackers and pickles, Wheel House Cheese Shop has been the definitive source for all things cheese since opening in mid-2014. From the beginning, the ability to sell wine, beer and cider has been a dream of Josef’s and, now a reality; Wheel House Cheese Shop has taken its concept to the next level.

Currently, Wheel House Cheese Shop’s new offerings include more than thirty Wines, over twenty Craft Beers and three Ciders, though Josef plans to continually rotate and grow this collection.

Get vivacious over the vino, as among the more noteworthy Wines are the 2012 Irreverence Vintners Reserve Merlot from Napa Valley, which boasts a complexity that, Josef says “will restore your faith in this oft-maligned grape.” He recommends the wine be paired with the Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, a lactose-free cheese that is savory and slightly tangy with a smooth caramel finish; a combination that is sure to leave your palate pleased. Other wine and cheese recommended pairings from Josef are the sweet and mild Brabander Goat Gouda, whichgoes best with a light and fresh white wine like the Blondie Chardonnay because of the Gouda’s buttery flavor and texture. The best partner for the smooth triple crème Brillat Savarin, is the Ruggeri DOCG Prosecco from Valdobbiadene, a wine growing region that is located just below the Alpine areas of Veneto, which provides a perfect climate for a “cool” variety of grapes. This wine is light, bubbly and refreshing with a long fruity finish; the best relief from this Angeleno Autumn.

Pick a bottle (any bottle), because every kind of cheese goes well with any one of the new eclectic Craft Beer and Cider selections on offer. For blue-cheese fans, Josef likes to pair Stilton, one of the world’s most well-known and loved cheeses, with Galaxy White IPA, a spiced Belgian wheat beer from Anchorage Brewing Company in Alaska that is brewed with kumquats, coriander and peppercorns. A hearty cheese like Hook’s Ten Year Cheddar, with a full, rich and cheddar finish, goes best with the dry and tart Wandering Aengus Wanderlust Cider and the Maredsous 8 Brune, a Belgian Duvel from the Benedictine Abbey tastes great with Oma, a washed-rind cow’s-milk cheese from Vermont (a Wheel House staff favorite – and for good reason).

Wine and beer are not the only new things to consume at Wheel House Cheese Shop. A new menu includes a small set of made-to-order Sandwiches: a Caprese made with mozzarella, fire-roasted tomatoes and basil grown on the shop’s back patio; a Salami & Brie featuring Fromager d’Affinois and jalapeño jelly; and the Ham & Swiss made with French ham, Red Witch Alpine Cheese and grape mostarda. There are also three special Boards patrons can order to try out the shop’s special selections.  Guests can enjoy the Cheese Board with two cheese offerings, quince paste and specialty baguette slices; a Meat Board with three charcuterie selections, pickles, mustard and baguette; or the Wheel House, an indulgent board that combines both the cheese and the meat boards. Broaden the “Board” experience and try any one of the Sides, which includes Marcona Almonds, a Spanish Cocktail Mix, Olives, Cornichons, Gluten Free Crackers, Quince Paste or Bourbon Cured Dried Fruit.

While the eclectic selection of wines, beers and ciders are available for purchase on their own, do not miss out on the complimentary Weekly Tastings every Friday from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. “We plan to mix it up,” Josef says. “Sometimes it will be wine, other times beer, but it will always be something that pairs amazingly well with one of our cheeses.  At the end of the day, let’s face it, what better way to kick off your weekend.” Wheel House Cheese Shop will also incorporate their new retail beverage program into their scheduled cheese classes, special tastings and will also be offering lessons on perfect pairings for your special occasion (even if you are the only one at the party). The next session, Dairy and Vine 101, features a lesson on pairing wine and cheese (with plenty of samples of both) followed by Entertaining with Cheese: Building the Perfect Board hosted by Josef himself. Keep an eye on the Wheel House Cheese Shop Facebook and Twitter pages for announcements about future tastings and upcoming classes.

As the holidays approach, Josef plans to rotate his inventory frequently. “My goal has always been to be a pioneer with what is offered at Wheel House Cheese Shop. I want to keep the inventory ever-evolving, and always new and fresh so that guests have a reason to come back for more,” says Josef. Wheel House Cheese Shop will also be selling Gift Baskets and Specialty Platters with house-curated selections of cheese, charcuterie, wine, beer and cider that make great gifts or a perfect spread for a holiday party.

Wheel House Cheese Shop is very excited to introduce all of these new offerings and experiences. “We have been really well received by the community, and more people continue to discover us each day,” Josef says. Whether you are an expert or beginner who frequents fromage, vies for vino, is bent on beer or sighs over cider, Wheel House Cheese Shop is your one stop shop to impressing your friends, family, neighbors…or just you!

Wheel House Cheese Shop is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm and Sunday from10:00 am to 8:00 pm; For more information, please visit www.wheelhousecheese.com or call 424.289.9167.

Follow Wheel House Cheese Shop on:

Facebook: Facebook/WheelHouseCheeseLA

Twitter: @WheelHouseLA

Instagram:  @WheelHouseLA

 

Wheel House Cheese Shop

12954 West Washington Boulevard

Culver City, CA 90066

T:  424.289.9167

http://wheelhousecheese.com

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: artisan, beer, belgian, charcuterie, Chardonnay, cheese, cider, craft beer, culver city, education, food pairing, fruit, gourmet, menu, Merlot, Napa Valley, palate, prosecco, tasting notes, wine pairing, wine store

Perlis Picks: To BYOB in Las Vegas

August 15, 2015 by evebushman

For a long time, BYOB in Las Vegas was pretty hit-or-miss. Some restaurants welcomed BYOB diners with open arms, some charged outrageous corkage fees, some said they didn’t allow BYOB, while others said it was illegal [I believe it actually was in some parts of LV, maybe still is]. Some of these inconsistencies occurred at different restaurants on the same hotel property.

Since the onset of the most recent recession, my wife Karen and I have noticed an overall loosening of these policies. I’d like to share with you some of our favorite restaurants in Las Vegas – including our most recent exciting find – that do allow diners to bring their own wine, but first…

In any article about corkage, I feel obligated to mention a few rules. First, please bear in mind that BYOB is a privilege, not a right. You, as a diner, should appreciate when a restaurant owner allows you to bring in an outside product for consumption. Part of showing this appreciation is to bring in a wine appropriate to the meal, not some budget product hurriedly picked from a supermarket shelf en route to the dining establishment. Offer a taste of the wine to the manager, owner, or sommelier. And remember to include the service being provided in your gratuity; the server should not be punished due to you bringing in your own bottle instead of ordering wine from the restaurant’s list.

Please note that all of the restaurants listed below have very good wine lists. The owners just choose to provide their diners with the choice of bringing their own wine. Quite often, we will order a glass of something from a restaurant’s list before drinking the bottle we brought with us.

Also, should you choose to dine at any of the restaurants suggested below, I recommend that you verify in advance that the corkage policies I’ve listed are still in effect.

 

On the strip…

MON AMI GABI

Paris Las Vegas

3655 Las Vegas Blvd South

Well priced menu in the style of a classic French Bistro. My favorite menu item is the Hanger Steak for about $23. Great view of the Bellagio fountain.

Corkage: $35

BOUCHON

The Venetian

3355 Las Vegas Blvd South

Another French Bistro, this one with the added bonus of being in the Thomas Keller family of restaurants.

Corkage: $25

 

We often prefer to dine off the strip, not being huge fans of the crowded celebrity chef dining experiences. Here are a couple of our favorites…

MARCHE BACCHUS

2620 Regatta Dr Ste 106
Las Vegas, NV 89128

Not your typical BYOB place. Actually a great wine store with a restaurant attached, or a great restaurant with a wine store attached, depending on how you look at it. The idea here is you pick a bottle [or two] from the wine store and bring it to your table for an additional $10. I don’t know if they actually allow outside wine. But with the terrific selection and reasonable pricing, who cares? Menu is French bistro [kind of a recurring theme here, I know] with some pastas to add a touch of Italian. On the shore of a man made lake in Summerlin. Wine tasting on Saturday afternoons.

TODD’S UNIQUE DINING

4350 E Sunset Rd Henderson, NV 89014

No French Bistro here. At this strip mall restaurant in Henderson, Chef Todd Clore creates his menus based on what he feels will taste good that day. Sample dishes:

Chipotle fried Calamari and Rock shrimp, spicy aioli

Goat Cheese Wonton raspberry basil sauce

Boneless Short Rib, jalapeño mashed, caramelized onion sauce

Breast of Duck pomegranate red wine sauce, mashed sweet potatoes

Grilled Skirtsteak “ON FIRE” chili cheese fries and black bean chili sauce

Todd’s also has monthly wine dinners.

Corkage: $20 [$0 on Wednesday]

Sam Marvin, Echo & Rig

Sam Marvin, Echo & Rig

ECHO & RIG

440 S Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145

Our latest “find” in Summerlin, and the reason I wanted to write this article now. In Tivoli Village, a picturesque outdoor shopping mall of high-end stores and delicious restaurants, Echo & Rig is a combination butcher shop and steak house.

From their website:

“Sam Marvin and Frank Fronda have introduced a pioneering new concept which transforms the long-held theories behind the steakhouse formula while simultaneously reintroducing the neighborhood butcher shop. The Echo & Rig Butcher Shop is a stunning homage to meat featuring a large open glass meat locker, vertical displays and an exhibition/demonstration area.”

Excellent personal service. Great selection of small plates and plenty of choices for non-steak eaters as well. I could have made a meal of just the small plates, but I wanted one of those steaks. So we got a salad of Tomato, Cucumber, Watermelon & Red Onion as well as an order of Bone Marrow Carne Asada. Karen got the Bouillabaisse while I ordered the Skirt Steak. The most expensive steaks were $34.80 and the one I got was $25.70. Delicious and reasonable. And, dig this…

Corkage: $0.00. That’s right, zero, nada, the big bagel.

They do have a very nice wine list, so we had a couple of glasses of Lambrusco to start.

Even better, later next year they plan on opening in Calabasas. Closer than Vegas, baby.

Michael Perlis has been pursuing his passion for wine for more than 25 years. He has had the good fortune of having numerous mentors to show him the way, as well as a wonderful wife who encourages him and shares his interest. After a couple of decades of learning about wine, attending events, visiting wineries and vineyards, and tasting as much wine as he possibly could, he had the amazing luck to meet Eve Bushman. Now, as Contributing Editor for Eve’s Wine 101, he does his best to bring as much information as possible about wine to Eve’s Wine 101 faithful readers. Michael is also Vice President of Eve Bushman Consulting (fka Eve’s Wine 101 Consulting) http://evebushmanconsulting.com/ and President of MCP Financial. Michael can be contacted at michaelthezinfan@aol.com or michael@evebushmanconsulting.com

Filed Under: Michael Perlis Tagged With: bottle, cheese, chef, corkage, France, Italy, las vegas, menu, restaurants, sommelier, wine list, wine store, Wine tasting

Certified Sommelier Mike Ward Launches Website to Pair Wine with People

May 14, 2015 by evebushman

St. Louis, MO – St. Louis-based Wine Educator, Mike Ward, excitedly announced this morning the launch of his website, Wardonwine.com. Designed to help people find a wine they appreciate, pair that wine with food, and help them enjoy that wine to the fullest, Wardonwine.com was developed with the mission of ‘Pairing wine with people.’ Utilizing the website on a mobile device enables the user to search for a specific wine by grape variety, food pairing, or region, and helps them to locate the wines they love quickly and easily in a restaurant or retail store environment. Whether searching for a favorite wine, or perhaps a new one, the website’s database also provides useful information to enhance the experience, such as a customized tasting note, tips on how to enjoy the wine at its best, as well as the wine’s general price point and rating.

ward1-181-Edit-EditThe website is equally useful for both wine novices and full-blown oenophiles. According to Ward, “A little education can go a long way in ensuring your ultimate gratification of and appreciation for wine,” hence, the website also refers the user to local wine classes, tastings, and events.

Mike began his career in the restaurant industry managing such establishments as Mike Duffy’s Pub and Grill, Remy’s Kitchen and Wine Bar and Cafe Eau and Eau Bistro in the St. Louis Chase Park Plaza. He also served as Director of Purchasing at The St. Louis Adam’s Mark Hotel, and Food and Beverage Director at The River Port Doubletree Hotel. From early on, Mike had a fascination with, and a passion for, all things wine. This fascination and passion led him to his position as Missouri State Wine Educator for Major Brands, Inc., a distributorship in St. Louis.  Ward on Wine was founded in 2014 when Mike made the decision to branch out on his own.
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Ward is a Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Spirits, Certified Wine Educator, and member of the Society of Wine Educators. He has also successfully completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 2 Intermediate exam, as well as certification at the Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy.

On his philosophy of pairing wine with people, Ward said, “There is a wine out there for every person, every occasion, every journey, every place in time – Ward on Wine is designed to help you discover those wines, learn about those wines, and share those wines.
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”

For more information please visit: www.Wardonwine.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: food pairing, grape, restaurant, sommelier, tasting notes, variety, wine bar, wine education, wine store

Hidden Loophole in Wine Shipping Bill Bans Consumer Access to Thousands of Wines

August 11, 2014 by evebushman

(Washington, DC)—The new wine shipping law inserted into the recently approved Massachusetts budget continues to endorse a ban on the shipment of hundreds thousands of wines into the state. This fact that has gone unmentioned in coverage of the issue and in the bill itself, despite the American Wine Consumer Coalition, its members and others advocates alerting lawmakers to this loophole in the law in recent months.

AWCC_logo_Color-WEB_zps9bbf0cfdAll of the following wines may not be shipped to Massachusetts residents under the new wine shipping law because the only U.S. source for these wines is wine retailers and wine stores, which are banned from shipping into the state under the new law:

French Champagne
French Bordeaux
French Sauterne
French Red Burgundy
French White Burgundy
French Rhone Wines
French Loire Wines
French Alsatian Wines
French Rose From Provence
All other French Wines
German Rieslings
All Other German Wines
Spanish Rioja Wines
All Other Spanish Wines
Vintage Port From Portugal
Barolo From Italy
Barbaresco From Italy
All Other Italian Wines
Austrian Riesling
Austrian Gruner Veltliner
All Other Austrian Wines
Australian Shiraz
Australian Barossa Valley Wines
Australian Clare Valley Wines
Australian Eden Valley Wines
Australian Adelaide Hills Wines
All Other Australian Wines
New Zealand Pinot Noirs
New Zealand Chardonnays
New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
All Other New Zealand Wines
South African Pinotage
All Other South African Wines
Chilean Merlot
Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
All Other Chilean Wines
Argentine Malbec
Argentine Cabernet Sauvignon
All Other Argentine Wines
Uruguayan Tannat
All Other Uruguayan wines
Canadian Ice Wine
British Columbian Wines
All Other Canadian Wines
All Greek Wines
All Other Wines Sold, But Not Produced, in the United States

In addition to all foreign-made wines being banned from shipment due to their only U.S. source, wine stores and wine retailers, being banned from shipping to Massachusetts, the following wines and products will also be banned for the same reason:

• The vast majority of rare and collectible American wines most often sold at auction houses and wine retailers

• The vast majority of non-American (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, etc) collectible and investment grade wines that are almost always sold by retailers and auction houses.

• Wine-of-the-Month Club Memberships

• Wines sold as parts of Gift Baskets

• The vast majority of Kosher wines

“We understand that a small cup of water for the parched is better than no water at all, however there is no reason why the legislature could not have provided the state’s consumers with a full glass of water— or wine—rather than choosing to unnecessarily protect special interests,” said Tom Wark, executive director of the American Wine Consumer Coalition.

By banning the delivery of an entire class of wines, the Massachusetts legislature may have made the same mistake they did the last time they attempted to address this issue and invited a constitutional challenged and lost.
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It would be in the best interests of the Legislature, the State, and, most importantly, consumers, to see this new law expanded to allow consumers to have wine shipped to them from out-of-state wine retailers as well as from out-of-state wineries.

About the American Wine Consumer Coalition
The American Wine Consumer Coalition is a national advocacy organization that works on behalf of wine consumers to advance consumer-friendly wine laws. The AWCC works through lobbying, litigation and educatiional efforts to advance the agenda of wine consmers. The AWCC is membership supported.

Filed Under: Guests Tagged With: alsace, argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, burgundy, cabernet sauvignon, champagne, Chardonnay, Chile, France, Germany, Gruner Veltliner, import, Loire, Malbec, Merlot, New Zealand, Pinot Noir, pinotage, Port, portugal, Rhone, Riesling, Rioja, Rose, sauterne, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, spain, wine law, wine store

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